MA in Dance (Studio & Related Studies)
Photo: Shamar Watt (BFA ‘15) and fellow collaborators rehearse MANCC Artist Cynthia Oliver’s Virago-Man Dem. Credit: MANCC photo by Chris Cameron
Program Description
The Master of Arts in Dance with a major in Studio and Related Studies offers an opportunity for significant investigation into one or more of the diverse areas within the field of dance. Studio-related specializations that extend beyond the traditional studio practices of performance and choreography are embraced as the dance profession is defined in a broad sense. With an expectation of technical proficiency in dance, academic studies and movement-centered practices may be fluidly explored, while simultaneously integrating foundational skills in performance, choreography, and their tangents.
This degree is ideal for the pre-professional or returning professional with a clear vision of how they hope to contribute to the field of dance upon graduation. Guided by a clear personal vision, candidates propose a custom-designed program of study that centers on one or more dance-related areas of concentration. The program is designed to support self-driven inquiry into personal interests and offer flexibility in curricular content. Students are required to investigate possibilities for elective courses that relate to their area(s) of interest, deepen their understanding of dance studio studies, and engage in significant investigation and process-based research.
The broad range of faculty research and creative activities at Florida State University School of Dance, partnered with the state-of-the-art facilities and the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography offer extensive resources for creating individualized programs of study. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the School of Dance and College of Fine Arts web sites to become familiar with faculty expertise and mentoring possibilities. The focus of the major may include, but is not limited to: dance administration, community engagement, dance science, dance production design, and dance technology.
Students in this program interact on an everyday basis with graduate students in the Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts in Dance (American Dance Studies) programs. Additionally, all graduate students benefit from a body of talented undergraduate dancers in the BFA and General Studies programs.The MA in Dance (Studio and Related Studies) program culminates in a capstone experience designed by the student in consultation with an advising professor.
Curriculum Requirements
Candidates must complete thirty-six (36) semester hours of graduate level course requirements. At least twenty-one (21) of these credits must be fulfilled by the required courses listed in Curriculum Requirements. The remaining fifteen (15) semester hours may be fulfilled by elective courses in one or more studio related courses listed below. Elective courses must be approved by the student’s advisor.
Please note:
- Course names, numbers, and requirements are subject to change.
- Semester hours for each course are shown in parentheses.
I. Core Program (21 hours)
DAA 5118r and/or DAA 5118r (11) – Ballet and/or Contemporary
DAN 5191 (3) – Seminar in Dance Research
DAA 5618 (3) – Choreography
DAN5647 (2) – Choreographic Process
DAN 5971r. (2-4) – MA Capstone
II. Electives (15 hours)
Possible Elective Courses Include:
DAA 5118 (1-3) – Contemporary Dance, Repeatable up to 18 hrs
DAA 5218 (1-3) – Ballet, Repeatable up to 18 hrs
DAN5647 (2) – Choreographic Process
DAA 5688 (1) – Dance Ensemble, Repeatable up to 3 hrs
DAA 5698 (1-2) – Dance Performance Repeatable up to 10 hrs
DAN 5158 (3) – Theory of Dance Performance & Directing.
DAE 5940 (2) – Supervised Teaching, Max. of 2 credits may apply to master’s degree
DAN 5190 (3) – Theory & Practice in Dance Technique (3)
DAN 5910 (2) – Supervised Research, Max of 2 credits may apply to master’s degree
DAN 5930 (1-3) – Special Topics, Repeatable up to 9 hrs
DAN 5905 (2-3) – Directed Individual Study, Repeatable up to 12 hrs
DAN 5508 (3) – Visual Design for Choreography
DAA 5618 (3) – Choreography
DAA 5648 (2-6) – Choreographic Project, Repeatable to 10 hrs
DAN 5950 (3) – New York City: Arts and Resources as the Art Event, Repeatable to 6 hrs
DAN 5147 (3) – Dance in the Global Gulf
DAN 5148 (3) – Dance Migrations and Mobilities
DAN 5149 (3) – Contemporary Stage and Social Movements
DAN 5128 (3) – Theory of Dance
DAN 5194 (3) – Dancing in the Movies
DAN 5590 (3) Studies in Dance Technology
DAN 5591 (3) Dance & Video
DAN 5592 (3) Screendance Composition
Specialized Studies in Arts in Community Practice (12) – A cross disciplinary specialized studies curriculum. Graduate coursework available in 3 areas of Social Work, Dance, and Art Education/Art Therapy.
MA Capstone Project Requirement
The candidate must develop an appropriate capstone experience that substantially synthesizes his/her unique curricular experience. The capstone project must meet the approval of the graduate advisor and the graduate faculty mentoring the candidate’s individual program. Capstone credits may range from 2 to 4 semester hours.
Normative time for completion of the degree is four semesters.
Total: Thirty-six semester hours
Graduate Financial Aid
Graduate Assistantships are available to qualified students and often combines teaching and research or a combination of different work responsibilities. When applying, it is important to include as much information as possible about special abilities, interests, and experience.
- Teaching Assistantships: To be eligible for an assistantship in technique (ballet or contemporary dance), the student must first successfully complete the apprenticeship program (see below).
- Research Assistantships: These involve work in specialized areas such as costumes, publicity, production, etc. Applicants must demonstrate ability in their chosen area.
- Apprenticeship Program: Candidates for apprenticeships must have achieved the most advanced level in the technique they wish to teach. Their work at this level will be assessed for at least one semester. During the same term, the candidate will observe a minimum of ten nonmajor technique classes and will teach three nonmajor classes, which faculty members will observe and assess. After successfully completing this apprenticeship, the student is eligible for consideration as a teaching assistant. Candidates designated as returning professionals by the graduate faculty are exempt from the apprenticeship requirement.
How to Apply for Aid: Download, complete and return the Graduate Apprenticeship Assistantship Application.
Future Students: Auditions/Admissions
For more information about graduate programs, contact:
Anjali Austin
Graduate Program Director
School of Dance
P.O. Box 3062120
Florida State University
Tallahassee FL 32306-2120
aaustin@fsu.edu